The Cari-Aire aviation internship program was officially launched last week at the Cabinet of the Representative Minister of Curaçao in The Hague. This internship program focuses on strengthening the aviation sector across all six islands. It is an initiative by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW) and the Caribbean aviation authorities, implemented in collaboration with the WeConnect Foundation. Three interns will begin a six-month internship this week with the aviation authorities of Curaçao and Aruba.
Objective Cari-Aire aims to enhance safety within the aviation sector. Specifically, the focus is on promoting expertise related to governmental tasks, such as aviation inspection, and expertise in legislation and policy. The selected interns will gain hands-on experience while bringing fresh, innovative knowledge, skills, and energy to support local employers in the aviation sector. This is particularly important as the aviation industry faces challenges, including the need for qualified personnel and an aging workforce.
Aviation Marjan van Giezen, MT member of Aviation at the Ministry of Infrastructure, responsible for Airspace and Regional Airports, expressed the importance of the aviation sector in her speech: “Aviation is a crucial and irreplaceable part of life on the islands in the Caribbean: aviation connects people, facilitates appointments with hospitals and notaries, provides access to education, and transports goods and patients.”
Interns The three interns are studying Aviation at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA). For example, 22-year-old Ghyslaine Sambo is in her third year and will undertake a shadowing internship to explore various aspects of the aviation authorities. “I’m looking forward to learning a lot during my internship. I also want to share my experiences to inspire more Caribbean students to intern on one of the islands.”
Aruban Charles Huntington (24) is excited about his internship at the Department of Civil Aviation Aruba (DCA). “I’m going back home, and I’m very pleased to contribute there. My graduation internship focuses on ‘compliance’ (regulations), looking at which international requirements must be met to ensure safety.”
For Abdullah Kendir (27), this internship marks the completion of his Aviation studies at HvA. With extensive work experience, including at Schiphol, he looks forward to his introduction to Curaçao. “Sun, sea, and of course, airplanes!” he says with a wink when asked what he expects. “Moreover, during my studies, I never dreamed that interning at an aviation authority would even be an option!”
Commitment On behalf of WeConnect, manager Tanja Fraai expressed her appreciation for the swift establishment of the internship program in just a few months: “This was only possible because all parties were 100% committed: the Ministry, the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, and, importantly, the aviation authorities themselves. This is a blueprint for how an internship program should be set up, with everyone on board.” Program manager Pam Evertsz addressed the students: “It is an honor for me to closely follow your growth. I believe that you, as the new generation of aviation professionals, will have a lasting and positive impact on aviation safety in the Caribbean.”
Collaboration The launch was attended by the Representative Minister of Sint Maarten and the directors of the Cabinets of Aruba and Curaçao. All wished the interns much success. There was great appreciation for this wonderful collaboration within the Kingdom, with hopes that the Cari-Aire aviation internship program will bring even more students to the islands in the future.
